Good morning brethren,

The apostle Peter wrote; “Wherein he greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, he are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”.

This is a different time and season for each of us as children of God. It is a season when our faith will be tried; perhaps more than at any other time in our lives. But let us not be cast down and depressed in our new normal; let us “redeem the time” and make good use of this time of separation from society at large. Don’t view this time as if you are in solitary confinement; we are never confined or restricted from entering into the presence of our Father and our God!

Use this time to strengthen yourself in your “holy habits”. Find your “daily” secret place of prayer and intimacy with God.

Matthew 6:6: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”

Continue to walk the Christian life; Build yourself up on your most holy faith! Jude 20.

Colossians 2:6-7: “As he have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving “.

And then learn and practice and strengthen yourself by meditation in the Word! Meditation in the Word is essential if we would “Think” like Christians and continue to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Psalm 119:15: “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways”;

Psalm 119:97: “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day”.

Colossians 3:16: “ Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual sings, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”

And then, thank the Lord for being able to communicate from afar. Use your phone and your email to witness and testify of the gospel, to encourage one another, and to ”provoke one another unto love and good works”. Be used of God even now!

Pray for our nation and our leaders; and pray for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brethren, use this time in garrison” to inspect and repair your armor so that you will be prepared for whatever our Lord and King has for us in the coming days; “for such a time as this”.

One of the great benefits of the church is gathering together on the Lord’s Day; if you’re like me, you long for the day when we will once again gather together as a church body. I am praying for it! Pray with me!

The Good Hand of our God be upon each of you!

Your fellow servant,